Christian McCaffrey played his fewest snaps of the season since his return from injury for the San Francisco 49ers, receiving a workload of 40 as they suffered a dispiriting 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

That number was down from his first two games back, with McCaffrey playing 56 and 59 offensive snaps respectively in Weeks 10 and 11. 

But, with Jordan Mason, who prior to McCaffrey's comeback was third in the league in rushing, only getting nine offensive snaps in Green Bay, it is clear there is little thought of a more even distribution of carries in the San Francisco backfield.

McCaffrey is still very much the bellcow, despite averaging just 2.9 yards per carry against a Green Bay run defense that effectively shut down the Niners' outside zone run game.

Since making his return from Achilles tendinitis, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year has displayed few signs of the explosiveness that has defined his tremendous success with the 49ers.

And, following the blowout at Lambeau Field, McCaffrey conceded that he is doing little to justify his big workload.

"It was just bad ball," McCaffrey told reporters of the 49ers' error-strewn showing. "I think it starts with each individual. And myself, I just gotta be better."

Asked about the 49ers' dwindling playoff hopes at 5-6, McCaffrey replied: "There's always a fight. It's one game at a time. Each day, you've gotta wake up, look yourself in the mirror, and get better, whether you win or lose. 

"And speaking for me, personally, that's what I'm gonna do."

McCaffrey retains the right attitude, but he's slowly running out of games in which to return to his devastating best. The longer it goes without McCaffrey producing the explosion he believes is on the horizon, the harder it will be to justify him dominating the workload ahead of two backs in Mason and Isaac Guerendo who enjoyed success in his absence.

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